Improvement in school-desks



R. K. CURTIS. School-Desk.

No. 202,934. Patented April 30,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROWLAND K. CURTIS, OF WABASH, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO WVABASH SCHOOL FURNITURE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCHOOL-DESKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,934, dated April 30, 1878; application filed January 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROWLAND K. Genius, of Wabash, in the county of Wabash and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in School-Desks, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of school-desks which are provided with a folding seat at the rear, for the pupil occupying the desk next ahead; and it has for its object to simplify the construction of such desks and increase the strength of the same, and at the same time to afl'ord a better support for the folding seat when down and occupied.

To this end my invention consists, first, in the peculiar construction of the rear legs of the desk, which are cut in the form of a slightlycurved standard in or nearly in the direction of the grain of the wood, the upper end of each of said standards being of the full width necessary to support the entire top of the desk, whereby the full strain of any weight upon the top of said desk is borne and "supported by said rear legs alone, as more fully hereinafter specified; and, second, the invention further consists inthe combination, with the rear legs, constructed and adapted to receive and support the desk-top, of the front legs, having recesses formed therein, with the brackets and seat-lever, said brackets extending across the front and rear legs, and connected therewith by screw-bolts, one of which resists the upward pressure of the seat-lever, substantially as described, whereby the side walls of the recesses are strengthened against lateral pressure of the seat levers, and the legs braced.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved desk Fig. 2, a transverse horizontal section of the legs on the line w as of Fig. 6. Fig. 3 represents a similar section on the line 3 y of Fig. 7. Fig. 4 represents a detached side elevation of the brackets and seat. Fig. 5 represents a top view of the same. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section of the legs or standards, and Fig. 7 a similar view of a modification thereof.

In the drawing, the letter A represents the rear legs of the desk, which are constructed of wood in the form of slightly-curved standards running in or nearly in the direction of the grain of the wood. The upper ends of said standards or legs are made sufficiently broad to support the entire top of the desk, which is attached directly thereto, whereby the whole strain of said top or weight thereon is brought to bear on the top of said front legs, which, by their construction, in respect to the grain of the wood, are peculiarly adapted to bear such strain.

The letter B represents the front legs of the desk, which are curved outwardly in an opposite direction to the curve of the legs A, and which are preferably cut from the wood in as nearly as possible the direction of its grain.

The rear faces of the upper part of the legs A are formed with straight faces a, for the reception of the rear faces a. of the upper parts 0 of the front legs B of the desk, and the legs A and B at such parts are united by means of a tongue and groove, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawing, or by means of dowelpins, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

The rear faces of the front legs B and the exposed rear portions of the front legs A form a continuous curve, 0, which forms a seat for the back 0. which, when secured in place, serves the double purpose of a rest for the back of the occupant of the seat and to strengthen and bind the upper junction of the front and rear legs.

The letter G represents the brackets which support the seat. Said brackets extend transversely across the two legs A B on the outside of the same, one on each side of the desk, so as to embrace said legs and strengthen the same at their lower junctionthe point of the greatest strain. These brackets extend to the front of the desk, and between their ends are pivoted or journaled the arms F, which support the seat. Said arms F each consist of a lever, to the long arms of which the seat-bottom is attached, the short arms serving to set into a recess, g, formed in the front legs of the desk when the seat is down, so as to be held thereby and supported in position for the occupant.

In order to better provide for the security of the seat, one of the bolts K K, by means of which the braces are secured to the legs, is arranged in such position as to pass directly over the short arms of the levers F, so as to assist in holding the seat in position.

Thus it will be seen that the recesses in the rear legs are efiectually braced on the sides against lateral strain of the arms of the seatsupporting levers by the braces, and that the top wall of said recesses is strengthened by one of the bolts, which connect the braces to the legs, and prevent crushing of the wood when the seat is down and subjected to pressme.

The advantages of my improvement will be apparent. It will be seen that the front legs of the desk are cut in the direction of the grain of the wood, and are thereby admirably adapted to bear severe strain, while the brackets which support the seat serve also to brace the legs at the point of junction, where the strain is the greatest.

The rear legs are thus constructed of a single piece of wood, as hereinbefore described, so as to leave their upper ends of sufficient Width to receive and support the entire top of the desk in a firm and substantial manner, the front legs being made so as to connect with the said rear legs at a point below the top. The strain applied upon the top of the desk will be received directly by said rear legs in a longitudinal direction, and all tendency to a separation of the joined edges of the aforesaid front and rear legs avoided.

What I claim is- 1. A school-desk having the rear legs thereof each constructed of a single piece of wood, cut in a slightly-curved form in or nearly in the direction of the grain of the wood, the upper ends of said legs being of sufficient'width to directly receive and support the entire top of the desk and. any weight brought to bear thereon, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the rear legs, con structed and adapted to receive and support the desk-top, of the front legs having recesses formed therein, with the brackets G and seatlever F, said brackets extending across the front and. rear legs, and connected therewith by screw-bolts K K, the former arranged to resist the upward pressure of the end of the seat-lever, substantially as described, whereby the side walls of the recesses are strengthened against lateral pressure of the seat-levers, and the legs braced, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ROWLAND K. CURTIS.

Witnesses:

A. L. TYER, CHAS. V. JAMES. 

